don't worry about the load.. worry about the placement of the shot

Federal Cast Core solid flat nose. Best penetration for bad bears, etc.....

I would suggest 300 grain bullets of the type recommended by WA Mtnhunter since you will be very close and want the bear to absorb all the energy if possible. I would not expect a .44 Mag to stop an angry bear unless you hit him in the brain. They just don't have enough energy to bowl one over. Even with a heart shot, you can expect him to do a lot of clawing and chomping before he expires 20-30 seconds later. With a bit of anger and an adrenelin rush, he might come at you fast. A .44Mag is certainly better than bare hands but a better strategy might be to hunt with a buddy who runs slower than you do.

I meant to not say Hollow Points, but Heavy, Penatrating Bullets! Bear spray is probably faster and shown to be more effective though. Try Grizzly Pistol Ammunition. I carried a .40 S&W, but I think it is too light, but had flattop Full Metal Jackets, and I figured that I could empty the clip on a bear if I had to.

You have two hands, one for pepper spray and one for you handgun.

I've done a bit of reading and digging on this myself and according to respected sources like Bryce Towsley's writings, heavy weight hard cast bullets (300 grains plus) are the best way to go. If reloading, look to Winchester 296 or H110 powders.

Here in Alaska, the preferred round is a hard cast bullet around 300 grains. Federal makes a decent 300 grain, Cor-Bon a very nice 305, and Buffalo Bore a better 300. Even the best hollow points will not penetrate the very heavy muscle and bone of a grizzly. The hard cast bullets don't expand, but do offer the penetration necessary to hit vital organs and/or pierce the skull. A hollow point will do neither. Forget anything smaller than a .44 mag, and go bigger if you can handle it.

Elmer Keith designed a bullet that would work nicely. Heavy, solid, hard-cast and flat-topped, especially for the .44. Still, a pistol is a little on the light side for a grizzly.

Check out the 340 grain buffalo bore heavy magnum
+p. It has 1478 muzzle velocity and 1649 pounds of energy. It will only work in ruger redhawks and super redhawks, ruger blawkhawks ruger vaqueros raging bull and There were a few more. This will go right through any bone in any animals body.